The plans come as Uzbekistan’s economy, industry and digital infrastructure expand, while the growing use of electric vehicles is expected to put additional pressure on the power system.
Over the past several years, the combined capacity of the country’s solar and wind power plants has exceeded 6.3 GW. The number of hydropower plants has surpassed 100, with their combined capacity approaching 2.5 GW. The expansion of renewable energy is also reducing natural gas consumption in the power sector.
By 2030, Uzbekistan aims to increase the size of its economy to $300 billion, while its population is expected to exceed 41 million. Electricity consumption by industry alone is projected to rise from 38 billion kWh to 53.5 billion kWh by 2030.
Against this backdrop, the government plans to increase total generation capacity to 46.1 GW by 2030, enabling annual electricity production of nearly 129 billion kWh. By 2035, generation capacity is expected to reach 57.2 GW, with annual output rising to 154.7 billion kWh.
The presentation also considered several scenarios for future electricity demand. Under moderate growth, the balance between generation and consumption is expected to remain sufficient through 2030. Faster growth in the economy, industry, electric transport and digital infrastructure, however, would create a need for additional generating capacity.
Mirziyoyev said energy-sector planning must account for higher economic growth and ensure that sufficient reserve capacity is maintained at all times.
The proposals include accelerating ongoing solar and wind projects, developing additional wind farms and expanding energy storage capacity.
Some projects are also to be reassessed because of low economic returns, unclear financing sources or prolonged delays. When selecting new generation projects, officials will consider not only their capacity but also the cost of electricity, grid connection opportunities, compatibility with energy storage systems and their impact on the overall energy balance.
